Our little fleet nosed into Djibouti harbour at 0900 on 12/3. The sigh of relief was almost audible. Every single person doing this trip dreads the passage, and the prospect has hung like a dark cloud over us for the last three years. It's such a relief to have it behind us.

Djibouti has been our first experience of Africa, and it has been an amazing eye-opener. Extraordinary scenery, wonderful wild-life, dreadful poverty and deprivation, and terrible hardship, yet the people clean, well-dressed and friendly, with noble and beautiful faces, and no apparent envy.

We took a trip into the wilds to a fantastic salt lake, the 3rd deepest in the world (180m below sea level) then to an amazing volcanic area where you can see the split of the rift valley beginning. Camels everywhere of course, and even goats standing in the tops of trees eating the vegetation.

We left this morning and have crossed the Gulf of Tadjoura (the end of the Gulf of Aden) to a remote place called Obock, still in the country of Djibouti.

Tomorrow we have to face the other spectre hanging over us, the straits of Bab el Mandeb. The wind whistling down the gulf is concentrated in the straits, and the funelling prodices strong winds - the boats preceding us have had 35 - 40 kn, so we'll be pleased when it's behind us.

Assuming the weather is kind, we will continue up the Red Sea to Massawa in Eritrea, where we will probably spend about 4 days, and take the chance to travel inland, to the capital, Asmara. All the crews who have gone there have reported a great welcome and no hassle. Then we will move up to Sudan and Egypt.

Anyway, we are fine and looking forward to the next few weeks. We have Richard and Sue Jones on board for company and help, and are travelling in a convoy of 4 boats - Hygeia, Mazy, Yang Shou and Fyn.

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